Magi?

May Wise Men bring you Holiday Blessings.

Las Cruces for the Holidays

I am now about 15 miles north of Las Cruces, and will be here for the holidays.  From my campsite, I can see the very remarkable, very jagged peaks that rise about 10 miles to the east of Las Cruces.  Friday evening, the sun lit them nicely for me.

Yesterday I took a long drive, dropping briefly into Texas, then up to Alamogordo for a late lunch.  I then went to White Sands, seeking some shots near to sunset.  I was disappointed because I could not find much to use the light that I had and capture the vast whiteness of the dunes.  I did have a nice blue sky at first, which I liked in contrast to my shots from a month ago.

I saw the sun lighting a clump of grass.  That light was closer to what I was hoping to find.

Moments later, the sun was setting.  The color was obscured by the dunes and far peaks, and was bland at first, a pastel yellow with some pink.  The sky was not yet rich, it became so later.  This is what I saw as I was leaving and had a better view to the west.  (OK, I admit it - I couldn't resist slipping in another sunset.)

Everyone that I saw during the early part of the sunset was looking to the west.  Me?  I was looking east at what the light was doing to the mountains near Alamogordo.

Play It Again, Sam

Another great sunset at Elephant Butte.  I was speaking with my brother and I mentioned that the sky was a dull grey-orange, except for one tiny cloud that was a fiery orange, too small for photographing.  Minutes later, clouds to the northeast lit up like they contained Thor's forge.

I grabbed my camera and went out, getting the above shot.  As I turned around, the sky to the south, then the southwest lit up.

I really love sunsets!

Another Elephant Butte Sunset

Like snowflakes, no two sunsets are the same.  This one started with some interesting light on one of the far mountains.

It grew into some very nice colors which, unfortunately, were right over the campground, putting shelters and RV's in the foreground.

I cropped them out as much as I could, then it occurred to me - when faced with a detracting foreground, change it!

 Yeah - THAT works!

White Sands National Monument

East of Las Cruces, surrounded by mountains, is a vast basin named White Sands.  Much of it is classic southern desert, with scrub vegetation and a predominant color of tan.  In the center is an area of drifts of white sand, which has been designated a National Monument.

I had mixed feelings about going there.  I usually am not much into desolation, being much more attracted to the mountain rivers, lakes, streams and forest that fill my eyes with greens and blues.  Yet, being only 60 miles away, I decided to drive to White Sands.

At first, I saw only white dunes, with little to attract my eye.  I then started to see the interplay of light on the shapes and the surface textures, and began to use my camera.

As I shot, I became more and more caught up in the textures.

The dunes not only look like snow drifts, they offer similar opportunities for fun.  Many of the dunes were capped by sledders using plastic saucers to slide down the dunes.

 I may go back later in the afternoon.  I bet a sunset would add some really interesting color.

What a Way to Wake Up!

I was in bed early one morning 5 days ago.  Looking up through the window, I saw some clouds with color.  Color overhead at dawn is somewhat unusual, so I sat up.  One glance out the rear window, and I grabbed my clothes, dressed, and ran outside with my camera.  This is what I saw.

I took a few shots, then came back inside.  I short time later, the color was gone, but the patterns on the lake were kind of cool.

Such shows are rare, but continue to delight.

Elephants and Tarantulas

I am at Elephant Butte State Park.  How did it get its name?  Well...  (click to see the labels)

A few days ago, I was driving a back road, doing around 60.  On the pavement in front of me, I saw something moving.  I had enough of a view of it to stop before reaching it.  I grabbed my camera and jumped out to take a photo, getting to it just as it entered the grass fringe at the edge of the road.

Pretty cool!